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Once your baby learns how to pull herself up to stand, she'll be excited to learn what else is out there in the big wide world — and that means taking a big step forward. Your baby's first steps might happen within a few days or a few months of when she first learns to stand. But once she does, it's just a hop, skip and a jump (in other words, practice, practice and more practice!) to toddling and walking.

When to expect it: Many children graduate from pulling up to cruising (or walking by holding on to furniture) around month 9 or 10. When cruisers "reach altitude" and make their first attempts at letting go of whatever piece of furniture (or part of Mom or Dad's leg) they're using to stay upright, you could see your child's first toddling steps. Most children don't take their first independent steps until well after their first birthdays (around month 14, on average), although it’s not unusual for them to start as late as 18 months (or in some cases, as early as 7 months).

Some of it may be in her wiring: Your little one may follow in your or her dad’s (early or late) footsteps. Build and temperament play parts, too. A lean, high-energy baby will probably strut her stuff sooner than a mellow Buddha-baby. And some kids are more cautious and only want to take a step when they’re positive they won’t tumble; others are daredevils and will dive right in — literally.

One thing’s for sure: Your toddler will eventually learn to walk — but on her timetable, not yours. Sure, there are ways you can lend her a helping hand (and a couple of clapping hands as she racks up her triumphs!), but rather than focusing on the finish line, just embrace all the baby steps along the way — a journey that will make her victory lap seem that much sweeter.

How to help your baby discover it: You've heard of free-range chickens? Think free-range baby. Letting your little one get in lots of on-the-move time is the best way to encourage cruising and first steps. Let your child have plenty of open exploration time outside of the stroller or carrier — and away from the Exersaucer or swing — and let her see where her busy body takes her. A few other ways to encourage those first steps:

Leave a tempting trail. The same tricks that can entice a baby to crawl or pull up can also help motivate a beginning cruiser. Place tantalizing toys nearby but out of immediate reach when she pulls up to stand — say, a few couch cushions to the left — and your baby may try out new ways of getting at her prize.

Activate her cruise control. If your toddler can stand but seems afraid or unsure of what to do next, she needs plenty of practice figuring out how to balance her weight over her feet while she's on the move. Help her by lining up stable furniture to steady herself as she goes (if you haven't already done so, make sure your coffee table, TV stand and any other items your baby might use to maneuver herself are childproofed, with no sharp corners or risks of tipping). You can also encourage independent stepping by walking with her while holding her hands for balance — which means plenty of slow, bent-over walking around the room for you. But the joy on her face when she masters independent motion will more than make up for the occasional backache.

Get her a push toy. A small shopping cart, say, or a pint-sized lawn mower gives your child control as she grips and pushes it in front of her. Plus, it’ll give her the support she needs as she works those legs, refines her balance and boosts her confidence. Look for sturdy toys with a bar or handle she can lean on and big wheels that make it harder for the toy to tip over.

But don’t put her in a walker. The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages walkers, and studies show that they can slow motor development and cause back problems. Even worse, walkers can tip over or roll down the stairs, causing injuries.

Limit time in the stationary activity center. While they don’t carry rough-and-tumble risks, activity centers don’t boost walking skills, either, even if your baby can stand up and play in one. Remember, she needs to develop her torso and arm muscles in order to walk — not just the leg muscles — so don’t keep her in there for longer than 30 minutes at a time.

Keep her tootsies bare. No need to invest in a shoe wardrobe for your little stepper: The best shoes for beginning walkers are no shoes at all. Indoors and on safe surfaces outdoors, let your baby walk barefoot (or, if you'd like, in non-slip socks) as much as possible to help build muscle tone in her feet and ankles, to help her arches develop, and to learn balance and coordination. For outdoor excursions, keep the shoes lightweight and flexible. Stay away from tall booties or groovy high-top sneakers — too much ankle support can actually slow down your walker by constricting her movement.

Expect some stops and starts. A child who’s decided to immerse herself in other developmental feats — such as sounding out the family pooch’s name or feasting on finger foods now that she can pick them up with her thumb and pointer finger — may take a break of a few weeks, or even a month, from walking. Or your little crawler may relish zipping around so much that walking may come later. After all, why stop to try something that, to her, seems slower? Other walking toddlers may suddenly go back to crawling after a bad tumble or an illness.

What not to worry about: Every baby develops differently and at her own pace, so if your baby is not cruising by month 10 or walking by her first birthday, it's not a cause for concern. There's not much that parents can do to speed up a baby's development timeline besides providing lots of safe, fun, supportive opportunities to practice during playtime.

There are also a number of idiosyncrasies you’ll notice as your child waddles around — all of them perfectly normal:

Trips and falls. When your little one first starts walking, she may remind you of a boxer who’s fighting her way through a rough match: She bobs, weaves and sometimes takes a dive. Of course, she’s still refining her walking skills. (Plus she's still farsighted and doesn't yet have the depth perception of an older child or adult. Add in an adorable lack of coordination, and it's no wonder she probably didn’t spot that armchair before she bumped into it.) Make sure your home is childproofed, and watch her carefully at all times — then try not to stress over her inevitable (and numerous) tumbles. Sure, your little one may cry if she falls, but chances are she's more frustrated than injured. Remember, she's got built-in bumpers (that chubby tush and cushy diaper) and a still-flexible skull designed to take a lickin' and keep on tickin'. She’ll likely forget her trips and tumbles long before you do.

Flat feet. Take a good gander at those chubby legs and little flat feet, and you might be amazed that she can get around at all. But even though her feet look flat, that’s just baby fat plumping them up. By age 2 or 3, the extra “fluff” should melt away and you’ll be able to see her natural arches. Her feet may also curve inward, almost like half moons. That’s another infant holdover, which likely started in the womb, and is taking its sweet time to straighten out.

Pigeon-toed feet. Also common is “toeing-in,” or being slightly pigeon-toed, which comes from “internal tibial torsion” — meaning that the shinbones are turned inward. Luckily, it will usually correct itself within six months of her first step and without any outside help. If it continues longer, your child's doctor can give you stretching exercises to correct it. In another variation, some kids toe-out during their second year, only to pivot into toeing-in when they’re 3 or 4 years old. Even if the toeing-in doesn’t completely correct itself, it’s probably not a big deal unless it gets in the way of her walking and running. (If it does, talk to your doctor; corrective shoes can help.)

Bowed legs. After spending nine months curled up inside you, she may have slightly bowed legs, too. Bowed legs typically go away by about 18 months (but may also linger until she’s 3 years old). Even before she’s walking, you can help those gams straighten out by holding her while she stands.

Tiptoe walking. Some toddlers have an insatiable desire to totter around on their tiptoes — which, strangely enough, helps them develop their sense of balance. While in rare cases tiptoeing may indicate too-tight muscles in the heels or feet, it’s almost always a quirk that goes away on its own. To reassure yourself, just check to see that your child can physically flatten her foot. If she can’t, or if she’s still walking on her tiptoes past the age of 3, bring it to the pediatrician’s attention as it sometimes can be a sign of a developmental disorder.

Do talk to your pediatrician promptly if you notice your child repeatedly favoring (or stumbling to) one side, falling excessively, or if her legs seem unduly stiff, as these may possibly point to nerve, joint or spinal problems. Otherwise, just enjoy her jaunty gait (that phone video will come in handy now), and applaud her new adventures.

Have fun…and happy chasing!

What's next: Once your little one is getting around on her own two feet, she'll keep on exploring where they can take her — from running and jumping to dancing and more.

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